Following the second round of meetings in Rome (Italy) on April 19, Iran announced its intention to reach a nuclear agreement in the near future. Iranian Government Spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani affirmed that nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington had been conducted in a constructive atmosphere. She emphasised that Iran was not rushing toward an agreement but expressed confidence that a good deal could be achieved in the short term while safeguarding national interests. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran and the US had agreed to begin drafting a framework for a potential nuclear deal. Iran has never opposed scientific and technological cooperation with the US and believes that the Iranian economy could open trillion-dollar opportunities for American businesses.
According to analysts, the progress made in recent negotiations indicates that both Iran and the US are eager to reach an agreement soon. Notably, Iran pointed out that the US refrained from raising issues beyond the nuclear programme during the talks. Washington also appeared more flexible, focusing on freezing and monitoring Tehran’s current nuclear activities rather than demanding a complete dismantling of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reported that Iranian officials have agreed to allow a technical team from the IAEA to visit Tehran to discuss the resumption of access and monitoring of nuclear sites, among other matters. This development is seen as an encouraging sign of Iran’s goodwill.
The continued indirect talks between the US and Iran demonstrate both sides’ pursuit of diplomatic solutions to issues that have strained bilateral relations for years. Nevertheless, scepticism and divergent views remain major obstacles. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the Islamic Republic was willing to reach an agreement with the US through indirect negotiations, provided Tehran’s national interests are safeguarded. However, he warned that if Washington avoids negotiating on equal terms, Iran will continue to pursue its own path. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticised Washington for showing a lack of goodwill by imposing new sanctions targeting Tehran’s energy sector.
He noted that the US’s continued sanctions across various sectors of Iran’s economy were completely at odds with its declared commitment to dialogue and negotiations. As part of President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign to drive Iranian oil exports to zero, the US announced sanctions against Iranian liquefied natural gas magnate Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh even while negotiations were ongoing.
After the US unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement signed by Tehran and major world powers, the resumption of indirect talks between Iran and the US has helped break the prolonged deadlock surrounding Iran’s nuclear issue. Following years of confrontation and hostile actions that eroded trust between the two nations, the current dialogue is regarded as a confidence-building measure aimed at easing tensions and contributing to peace and stability in the Middle East.
